Justin Rose was unbeaten in the last Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, but the Olympic champion has already tasted defeat at Hazeltine – to an American spectator.

After Andy Sullivan and Rory McIlroy had failed to make a putt on the eighth green during Thursday's practice round, David Johnson from North Dakota shouted that he could make it from around 12 feet.

Rose and Henrik Stenson, the other two European players in the group, decided to call the man's bluff and brought him out of the crowd, with Rose even betting him 100 US dollars that he would miss.

However, after Rose placed the 100 dollar bill on the green, Johnson promptly holed the putt to spark wild celebrations and earn himself high-fives and hugs from the European quartet.

Stenson said: "We played a match against Andy and Rory and they had a putt and Andy didn't make it, and they tried again to get the right line.

"Someone in the crowd yelled I could have made that, so we let him have a go. All credit to him. Rosie put 100 dollars down and the guy drilled it in the centre.

"He would have been chipping if it didn't go in, but all credit to him for making it."

Rose added: "I thought it (the money) might make it a bit more real for him, but clearly not. The boys were cupping out, missing it low and this guy just got the ball out and ripped it into the middle. Fair play to him and he celebrated in style.

"It's fun. We are doing what we should be doing out here, having fun. We are preparing, we are focusing, but you have to enjoy it."

Willie Mullins is “anxious” to learn the outcome of a British Horseracing Authority investigation into alleged betting irregularities that reportedly concerns the withdrawal of Faugheen from the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins is neither involved in the investigation nor suspected of any wrongdoing, but confirmed that the BHA were earlier in the year looking "for certain dates and times" which are thought to be linked with a number of lay bets before the eight-year-old was taken out of the big race on March 15.

Faugheen's trainer announced on February 17 that the seven-times Grade One winner would not defend his Champion Hurdle crown after he had developed a sore suspensory ligament.

He had been an odds-on favourite to win the race, which was claimed by stablemate Annie Power, who was supplemented for the Champion Hurdle.

Annie Power had previously won at Punchestown on the same day the news of Faugheen's injury was confirmed by his trainer.

Mullins told the Irish Times: "I wasn't given specific details by the BHA but they were looking for certain dates and times and I did that.

"I'm as anxious to know what happened, if anything happened, as quickly as possible."

Mullins added that he not heard anything else about the alleged investigation until he was contacted at the weekend by the Sunday Times in Ireland.

The BHA said it was "policy not to comment on investigations or speculation surrounding potential investigations".

Tributes have poured in to Arnold Palmer after the seven-time major winner, and one of the most beloved figures in the game, died on Sunday.

Palmer, whose powerful swing, attacking approach and ready smile attracted millions of loyal fans known as 'Arnie's Army' during his illustrious career, had celebrated his 87th birthday earlier this month.

Alastair Johnson, the chief executive officer of Arnold Palmer Enterprises, said Palmer died in Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon due to complications of heart problems.

A four-time Masters champion, Palmer had been unable to perform his customary role as honorary starter in April alongside Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player – the other members of golf's 'Big Three' – due to a shoulder injury and looked frail as he was helped to a seat on the first tee.

Augusta National chairman Billy Payne said on Sunday: " His presence at Augusta National will be sorely missed, but his impact on the Masters remains immeasurable – and it will never wane.

"Our thoughts are with Arnold's beloved wife Kit and his entire family. We look forward to the 2017 Masters Tournament, when we will do our very best to appropriately pay our respects to Arnold Palmer – a Masters legend, our game's finest ambassador, and a hero to generations of people throughout the world."

Palmer is survived by his second wife, Kit, daughters Amy Saunders and Peggy Wears and six grandchildren, including Sam Saunders, who plays on the PGA Tour.

Born Arnold Daniel Palmer on September 10, 1929 – just weeks before the Wall Street Crash – the man who would become 'the King' was hardly raised in regal conditions in the blue-collar town of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, the eldest of four children.

But crucially his father Deacon, known as Deke, became the greenkeeper at Latrobe Country Club in 1921 and the club professional in 1933, giving his son the ideal start to a career which ultimately produced more than 90 career titles, including seven major championships.

Palmer won the Masters i n each even-numbered year from 1958 to 1964, two Open Championships and the US Open in 1960, but never completed the career grand slam by winning the US PGA Championship – something he considered his greatest regret.

Perhaps his greatest achievement was reviving the fortunes of the Open , which had often been shunned by the leading American professionals due to the low prize money and cost and time involved in travelling across the Atlantic.

Nicklaus, who enjoyed a long, friendly rivalry with Palmer, said: " I wish I had another chance to talk to him, but I am so glad we talked a couple weeks ago on his birthday, when he sounded great.

"He was one of my best friends, closest friends, and he was for a long, long time. I will miss him greatly. He was the king of our sport and always will be."

Player had dedicated his tee shot at Augusta to Palmer and said at the time: " Arnold oozed with charisma. He had a short career in majors compared to Jack and I, but even though it was shorter, boy, he was so charismatic and a great icon and did so much for the game.''

Off the course, Palmer started many successful businesses, including a club company and a golf course design firm. Since 1979, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando – which he bought in 1974 – has been a fixture on the PGA Tour, with Tiger Woods winning the title eight times.

" It is not an exaggeration to say there would be no modern day PGA Tour without Arnold Palmer," PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.

"There would be no PGA Tour Champions without Arnold Palmer. There would be no Golf Channel without Arnold Palmer (who was a co-founder). No-one has had a greater impact on those who play our great sport or who are touched by it."

Palmer's legacy will be immediate as well as long-lasting, with US Ryder Cup captain Davis Love saying his side will " draw from his strength and determination to inspire us" when they face Europe at Hazeltine over the coming week.